Although most of them did not see what happened, the protesters accuse North Port Sun Publisher Steve Sachkar of acting aggressively toward Yates during a recess in a Feb. 27 meeting.

Sachkar denied the accusations.

Attempts to reach Yates for comment were unsuccessful. She did not attend the protest and reportedly did not wish to press the issue. Because Sachkar reportedly approached Yates during a recess, that portion of any conversation was not recorded on audio. Because the informal meeting was not a regular session of the commission, it was not recorded on video or shown on television.

Comments circulating about what happened prompted Jennifer Cohen of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women to organize a protest outside the Sun office.

“Violence against women in North Port will not be tolerated, not today, tomorrow or ever,” Cohen wrote in an e-mail rallying protesters.

Cohen, who said she based the email on what witnesses told her, wrote that Sachkar “shook, shoved and slammed a book down in front of our city mayor. . . . He was not arrested or removed by the local police.”

Cohen, the roommate of City Commissioner Rhonda DiFranco, said DiFranco had no role in the protest. “She did not have anything to do with this,” Cohen said. “No connection at all.”

About 15 pickets waved signs with slogans such as: “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent” and “Stop felony behavior against public officials.”

Cohen said she spoke with Dunn-Rankin prior to the protest. “He said, ‘This is an employee issue.' I said, ‘This is a North Port issue.' He did not agree to any apology.”

Contacted after the protest, Sachkar declined to comment other than to say that the incident is being blown “way out of proportion. Obviously, I would never do anything like that.”

Lorenzo Whitehead, one of the pickets, attended the same City Commission meeting as Sachkar — an informal session called a “workshop” in which commissioners discuss issues but cannot vote.

Whitehead said Sachkar angrily paced in the back of City Commission chambers while the commissioners informally discussed whether to restructure or eliminate the city's Business and Economic Development Advisory Board. Sachkar serves on that board.

During a recess, “Sachkar came down to the front, placed hands on both of Mayor Yates' shoulders and gave her a jostle,” Whitehead said. “. . . I don't care how upset you get, you're not supposed to touch an elected official.”

Several hours later, Sachkar reportedly stepped to the table at which the commissioners were seated, interrupted them and slammed a book on the table, said Whitehead — who was not present at that portion of the meeting.

Cohen said Yates told her she met with Dunn-Rankin about the incident and did not want to press charges again Sachkar.